Waiting list for cardiac stress test

[Westie2012]

I’ve been put on a waiting list to have a stress test , it’s been around 6 months and my symptoms that are the reason why my cardiologist requested the test for are getting worse . I’ve been told that I can’t be told when I’ll have the test as there’s no idea of how long the waiting list is . Do I just carry on struggling with my symptoms or ask my gp if they can do anything to find out when I might have the tests . I’ve been feeling quite unwell the last ten days , pretty fed up of feeling unwell right now .

[ParrotLover22]

Hi Westie. Sorry you are feeling unwell :(. If it were me in that position now, I would definitely try and chase it up with your Doctor as the recent NHS Events look pretty gloomy!

[Hidden]

Hello

I really feel for you and I would say yes ask your Doctor if they can chase it up explain how you are struggling

You have nothing to lose by asking but fingers crossed it could help you gain getting seen a little earlier I do hope so

Let us know how you get on x

[Hidden]

Dear Westie2012

You must explain this to your Dr as his/her words are making your stress and anxiety levels rise,

If you have been referred for this test { which is a really good one to find out at long last what could be causing your debilitating illness } then he/she should be able to chase it for you.

Its time for you to find answers and I for one are shocked that you are still in limbo, like you are, with your illness.

Please take care.

You are in my thoughts

[Cat04]

Try ringing the appointments office at your hospital - they can tell you how long the waiting list is and the classification of your appointment (expedited, urgent or routine). The list is usually in priority of need so unless they know you are worsening you won't more further up the list and seen earlier. Get your gp to contact them and also ring the medical secretary yourself, who will inform your consultant & he will reevaluate your time scale as necessary.

[Sljp0000]

Unfortunately you have to push push push and chase everything these days. Go back to your GP and explain your symptons again. Alternatively ring the department that does the stress test. I was 'forgotten' for 9 months for a CT Angiogram because they thought my symptons were anxiety and stress. I've just had an urgent bypass op. Don't worry about being a nuisance. You know how you feel and deserve being seen asap. Good luck, Susie.

[Jules2021]

I hear ya! Heart attack in April 2021. Wad in A+E in August this year with pains/nausea etc and got a tablet for angina added to my cocktail. Referred for stress echo and told not to do anything more than gentle walking till then. When i chased it up was told the waiting list is 18 months! Given that i am using my gtn more often i maybe meed to take the advice given on here and give them another call...Good luck

[Shootist]

My wife has calcified hearterys and suspected blockage she's been on the list for the last 6 months and was told it will not be this year maybe next year some time . Because of the imergrants the NHS is overwellemed with people it cannot cope I have been wiating 6 months for chest specialist the only way you will get tested is if you did what I did when I had blockages to my heart. You have to pay private the doc told me 3 years ago because of the emagrants I will have to wait 12 months if that was so I would have been dead I rang the local private hospital they got me in the next day £700.50 it cost I had 3 blocked hearterys and had 3 stents 14 days later. My wife rang the Doctor and they just said sorry you have to wait nothing we can do.

[Mariacat01]

Hi I just got my appointments and I have been waiting 12 months .hope you get yours soon

[Dralex]

My cardiologist ordered another stress echocardiagram for me back in February this year. I chased it up again with the hospital a couple of weeks ago; they confirmed I was definitely on the waiting list, and typically patients are having to wait 9 months for this procedure, so hopefully not too much longer for me. I know that for a stress echo a doctor has to be present while the test is carried out, which probably has a negative impact on the number of patients that can be treated.

[chickeninthewood in reply to Dralex]

Is a stress test the same as a walking test on a treadmill?

[Dralex in reply to chickeninthewood]

I have had two types of stress test; one on a treadmill (or exercise bike) where you are wired up to record blood pressure, heart rate, ecg, etc whilst the physical difficulty is gradually increased (speed & gradient) to monitor the effect on your heart. A stress echo test is carried out while you are on a couch in a laboratory. Your heart performance is monitored by ultrasound recordings as your heart rate is gradually increased by the injection of a drug such as dobutamine. This stress test is very straightforward and easy, and in my opinion preferable to the treadmill version.

[chickeninthewood]

Oh I didn't know that. I was given an appointment for a walking one but I have to have leg operations and thought it would not be easy to say the least. Then they offered me a injection one like you mentioned but I thought it would be bad to speed my heart up whilst in pain waiting for a leg operation/s so I cancelled that, having told my gp first. Maybe I could have gone ahead with the drug one but I didn't know the full facts and nobody told me - can't get the staff nowadays haha! Anywayh it was all done on the telephone with the cardiologist. Face to face I could have got more information. Oh, well the op (or ops) come first and then I will do the walking one as I think it's more natural than taking drugs to speed the heart but but I might be wrong!